Improved human islets’ viability and functionality with mesenchymal stem cells and arg-gly-asp tripeptides supplementation of alginate micro-encapsulated islets in vitro

The extension of islet transplantation to a wider number of type 1 diabetes patients is compromised by severe adverse events related to the immunosuppressant therapy required for allogenic islet transplantation. In this context, microencapsulation offers the prospects of immunosuppressive-free therapy by physically isolating islets from the immune system. However, current biomaterials need to be optimized to: improve biocompatibility, guaranty...